Dublin Zoo relieved over return of stolen penguin

Jul 8, 11:37 AM EDT

DUBLIN (AP) -- Kelli the penguin's back home in Dublin Zoo after pranksters snatched the bird and abandoned her on a city sidewalk.

Dublin Zoo condemned Thursday's theft as no joke, because the 10-year-old Humboldt penguin could have been injured during her abduction or crushed by a vehicle.

Zoo officials said police tracked down Kelli using a signal from a microchip planted on the bird. She got the medical all-clear and was returned to her penguin partner, Mick.

Police said the thieves climbed over a security fence into an enclosure housing about a dozen Humboldt penguins and picked Kelli for reasons unknown.

Dublin Zoo has been targeted by annoying pranks before. In 2008, its switchboard was overwhelmed by callers asking to speak to Rory Lyon, G. Raffe and Ana Conda.

Online:

http://www.dublinzoo.ie

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_ODD_IRELAND_PENGUIN_KIDNAP

Students: can we have our bum slapping lucky cow back, please?

It’s a case of moo done it after a lucky statue of a cow was stolen from a college in Vienna days before their final exams.

The design students have begged police to find the life-size plastic cow, believing it brings good luck to anyone who slaps its rump before an exam.

The cow, decorated with Hawaiian flowers, was stolen from the school overnight.

The cow was one of the CowParade creations created by students for part of the largest and most successful public art event in the world.

Students now hope that tips leading to the thief will come forward after initiating a city-wide 'Wanted: Our School Cow' campaign.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/833486-students-can-we-have-our-bum-slapping-lucky-cow-back-please

RSPCA condemns sheep trolley prank

Sunday, November 29 2009, 22:16 GMT
By Catriona Wightman

The RSPCA has condemned pranksters who put a sheep in a trolley and pushed it into a supermarket.

The group was caught on CCTV at 3am in Asda in Bexleyheath, The Daily Telegraph reports.

It is believed that the group, who took photographs of the stunt, stole the sheep from a farm in Kent and took it to the shop in a car.

RSPCA inspector Andrew Kirby said that the sheep appears to be in good physical condition.

"This stupid, irresponsible stunt would have terrified this poor sheep and caused it great stress by removing it from its flock," he added. "We have tracked down the sheep's owner but we can't return it to its flock for six days because of restrictions on the movement of livestock."

Asda store manager Joe Lock also criticised the prank, saying: "We were shocked to discover that a poor sheep had been wheeled into our store. We hope the culprits hand themselves in."

The shop's employees have named the sheep Rob.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/news/a189098/rspca-condemns-sheep-trolley-prank.html

RSPCA condemns sheep trolley prank

Sunday, November 29 2009, 22:16 GMT
By Catriona Wightman

The RSPCA has condemned pranksters who put a sheep in a trolley and pushed it into a supermarket.

The group was caught on CCTV at 3am in Asda in Bexleyheath, The Daily Telegraph reports.

It is believed that the group, who took photographs of the stunt, stole the sheep from a farm in Kent and took it to the shop in a car.

RSPCA inspector Andrew Kirby said that the sheep appears to be in good physical condition.

"This stupid, irresponsible stunt would have terrified this poor sheep and caused it great stress by removing it from its flock," he added. "We have tracked down the sheep's owner but we can't return it to its flock for six days because of restrictions on the movement of livestock."

Asda store manager Joe Lock also criticised the prank, saying: "We were shocked to discover that a poor sheep had been wheeled into our store. We hope the culprits hand themselves in."

The shop's employees have named the sheep Rob.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/news/a189098/rspca-condemns-sheep-trolley-prank.html

Thief stuffs weapon-ferret down trousers

By TOM PHILLIPS - Friday, October 30, 2009

Police say a Florida man stole a live ferret from a pet shop by stuffing it down his trousers.

Thirty-eight-year-old Rodney Bolton is charged with theft of the $129 (£78) animal that police say he took from a pet store in Jacksonville Beach, The Florida Times-Union reported.

A 17-year-old witness confronted Bolton about the ferret-theft in the car park as he tried to leave - and was bitten by the animal after Bolton allegedly pushed it in the teen's face.

Technically, under Florida law, that makes the ferret a 'special weapon', with the result that Bolton also faces battery charges for dangerously wielding the animal.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Thief_stuffs_weapon-ferret_down_trousers&in_article_id=760149&in_page_id=2

Thief stuffs weapon-ferret down trousers

By TOM PHILLIPS - Friday, October 30, 2009

Police say a Florida man stole a live ferret from a pet shop by stuffing it down his trousers.

Thirty-eight-year-old Rodney Bolton is charged with theft of the $129 (£78) animal that police say he took from a pet store in Jacksonville Beach, The Florida Times-Union reported.

A 17-year-old witness confronted Bolton about the ferret-theft in the car park as he tried to leave - and was bitten by the animal after Bolton allegedly pushed it in the teen's face.

Technically, under Florida law, that makes the ferret a 'special weapon', with the result that Bolton also faces battery charges for dangerously wielding the animal.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?Thief_stuffs_weapon-ferret_down_trousers&in_article_id=760149&in_page_id=2

Concern Grows Over Skateboarding Tortoise

2:58pm UK, Friday September 18, 2009

Police are appealing for help to trace a stolen tortoise who appears in a favourite family photo riding on a skateboard.

Herman, a six-year-old hermann tortoise, was taken from his tank in Gosport between 10am and 6pm on August 20th.

The thief forced a secure cat flap, reached in, and took Herman from his tank.

Distraught owner Paula Grundy, 32, said: "We are really concerned about Herman. Lots of people don’t realise that tortoises need quite a lot of care.

"Apart from their food – baby corn, curly kale, cucumber, lettuce and apples – they need an ultraviolet lamp and a heat lamp to keep up their energy."

She said the family, especially her six-year-old son, are devasted at the loss of Herman, and the sight of the empty vivarium is almost too much to bear.

Herman is described as seven to eight inches long with a khaki shell. The shell has a distinctive white mark. He is valued at £300.

Police are asking anyone with any information to contact the Gosport Priority Crime Team on 101 or ring the anonymous Crimestoppers charity line on 0800 555 111.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Police-Appeal-Over-Stolen-Tortoise-Herman-Was-Taken-From-Family-Home-In-Gosport/Article/200909315384233?f=rss

Concern Grows Over Skateboarding Tortoise

2:58pm UK, Friday September 18, 2009

Police are appealing for help to trace a stolen tortoise who appears in a favourite family photo riding on a skateboard.

Herman, a six-year-old hermann tortoise, was taken from his tank in Gosport between 10am and 6pm on August 20th.

The thief forced a secure cat flap, reached in, and took Herman from his tank.

Distraught owner Paula Grundy, 32, said: "We are really concerned about Herman. Lots of people don’t realise that tortoises need quite a lot of care.

"Apart from their food – baby corn, curly kale, cucumber, lettuce and apples – they need an ultraviolet lamp and a heat lamp to keep up their energy."

She said the family, especially her six-year-old son, are devasted at the loss of Herman, and the sight of the empty vivarium is almost too much to bear.

Herman is described as seven to eight inches long with a khaki shell. The shell has a distinctive white mark. He is valued at £300.

Police are asking anyone with any information to contact the Gosport Priority Crime Team on 101 or ring the anonymous Crimestoppers charity line on 0800 555 111.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Police-Appeal-Over-Stolen-Tortoise-Herman-Was-Taken-From-Family-Home-In-Gosport/Article/200909315384233?f=rss

Tracking device leads authorities to stolen snake

A STOLEN two-metre carpet python has been recovered after authorities homed in on a tracking device fitted to an endangered woylie which the snake had devoured.

The snake was taken from the Department of Environment and Conservation's Woodvale Research Centre sometime between June 19 and 22. The python had eaten a woylie in the wild at Narrogin, complete with transmitter, and was brought to the centre so the tracking device could be removed from the snake.

Conservation department officers, with the assistance of the airforce, put up a search plane yesterday and traced the signal to a house in Heathridge. Department of Environment and Conservation senior research scientist Nicky Marlow said she was "absolutely ecstatic" to have the python back. "We were really upset when the python was stolen because we knew it wasn’t a good thing for her to have the transmitter inside her," Dr Marlow said. Dr Marlow said DEC needed special permission from Air Services Australian and the military to send up a search plane. Sergeant Damian Ellson, of Joondalup police, said the occupant of the house where the snake was found was at home when the property was raided. The 31-year-old man, who told police he bought the python from a seller for $50, has been charged with receiving stolen property. "He (the occupant) was not aware there was a tracker involved," he said.

"Upon entry we found the snake in a fish tank within about one minute, so it was a great result.

"(The python) was in a poor condition, it didn’t have the light and requirements a snake of that type would need. "It was very cold and distressed when located." Sgt Ellson said trading in stolen wildlife was a serious offence which carried fines of up to $7000. Dr Marlow said the python will be returned to the wild once the transmitter has been removed in a couple of weeks. The police investigation is ongoing.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25693117-2761,00.html